Concrete ditch.



S. L. STOVALL.

CONCRETE DITGH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912 Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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SMITH L. STOVALL, OF VISALIA, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE DIICH.

Application filed November 27, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SMITH L. S'IOVALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Visalia, Tulare county, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Ditches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to concrete ditches for carrying water in large quantities, which are adapted to rest directly on the ground.

The object of the invention is to provide a concrete ditch which is simpler of construction, cheaper and more durable than ditches which have been built heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a separately molded reinforced concrete side for a ditch which unites with the bottom to form an eflicient construction.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by such drawings and description as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as expressed in said claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a finished ditch constructed in accordance with my invention, the ditch being formed with only one vertical side. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a finished ditch having two standing sides. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the side slabs showing the reinforcing and bonding members.

The side slabs 2 are generally east or molded in a yard and after having set are transported to the place where the ditch is being constructed. These slabs are generally made of such length that they are readily transported and so that they can be readily handled. The side slabs are preferably provided on their lower edge with an inturned flange 3 of such size that the slabs may set on edge without the use of any braces to support them, and when the slabs are incorporated in a ditch, the cantaliver e'tlect of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented I) cc. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 733,798.

the flange assists the resistance of the side to lateral pressure of the water. The slabs are provided with reinforcing members l arranged vertically therein and spaced apart at suitable distances, which reinforcing members project laterally from the slab adjacent the bottom. These late ally projecting rods or bars or other reinforcing material may be formed integral with the vertical reinforcing or may be jointed thereto by suitable means. Then the flanged form of side is employed, one series of the lateral reinforcing rods 5 projects from the flange 3 and the other series (3 projects angularly downward from the slab above the flange, so that both series are embedded in the concrete of the bottom of the ditch and operate to tie the bottom and sides together. The side slabs are also provided with suitable longitudinal reinforcements 7.

In constructing the ditch the ground is leveled and the side slabs are placed with the lower face of the flanges 3 preferably flush with and resting on the ground. The reinforcement 12 of the bottom is then placed and the newly mixed concrete which is to form the bottom is placed in position and properly tamped and shaped. The concrete of the bottom 13 is of sullicient thickness to cover the flanges 3 and the projecting bonding rods 5 and, 6, so that the two parts are firmly and tightly held together, and the joint between the bottom and sides effectively sealed. The joints between the successive side slabs are closed by a web 14 of newly poured concrete, which is of such size that the concrete composing the same may properly set.

When the ditch is constructed on a hillside, as is shown in Fig. 1, only one molded side 2 is employed, the other side 15 being poured and set in place. WVhen the ditch is constructed on a level stretch as shown in Fig. 2, two molded. sides are employed, and the bottom is poured in place at the point of installation.

I claim:

1. In a concrete ditch, a separately molded side slab, a flange extending inwardly from the lower edge of said slab and bond.- ing means extending laterally from said flange.

2. In a concrete ditch, a separately molded side slab, bonding means extending laterally from said slab adjacent the lower edge thereof, and a bottom of newly mixed concrete embedding said bonding means.

3. In a concrete ditch, a separately molded side slab provided on its lower edge with an inturned flange, and bonding means embedded in said slab and projecting from said flange and from the face of the slab above the flange.

4. A side for a concrete ditch comprising a separately molded slab provided on its lower edge with a flange, bonding means eX- tending laterally fro1nthe face of said flange, and bonding means extending outwardly and downwardly from said slab immediately above said flange.

5. In a concrete ditch, a plurality of separately formed side slabs, an inturned flange on the lower edge of said slabs, bonding means extending from said slabs adjacent the lower edge, and a bottom of newly mixed concrete embedding said bonding means.

6. In a concrete ditch, a plurality of separat-ely formed side slabs provided on their lower edge with an inturned flange, a bottom of newly mixed concrete in said ditch, reinforcing means common to said. bottom ing reinforcementfor connection to concrete bottom of conduit. 3e

8. A concrete flume having a vertical side made up of slabs, a bottom and an inclined side molded in situ and associated with the slabs and with a support for the slabs.

9. A concrete fiume having a vertical wall made up of a plurality of slabs each having inward projecting base flanges, a support upon which the slabs rest, a bottom and an outward inclined side molded in site; and joined to the vertical wall and to the sup- 4 port therefor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 22nd day of November, 1912.

SMITH L. STOVALL.

In presence of H. G. Pnosr, M. LE CoN'rE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained ,for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. C. 

